During the early Western Jin Dynasty, a man named Xi Shen, known for his vast learning and bold character, was recommended by Governor Wen Li in response to Emperor Wu's call for talent. After excelling in the emperor's policy examination, Xi Shen was appointed as a court advisor. When his mother passed away, he resigned to observe a three-year mourning period, visiting her grave each morning to kneel and weep in grief.
Cui Hong, the Minister of Personnel, greatly admired Xi Shen's talent and character, recommending him as the Left Assistant Director. One day, Xi Shen impeached Cui Hong before Emperor Wu. Furious, Cui Hong told others, "I recommended him, and now he speaks against me before the emperor—I truly shot myself with my own bow and arrow!" When Xi Shen heard this, he replied, "He recommended me out of public duty, and I impeached him out of public duty. We both acted for the court—why would he say such a thing?" This reached Cui Hong, who felt ashamed, cooled his anger, and valued Xi Shen even more. Source: *Jin Shu*, "Biography of Xi Shen"
Xi Qiao was appointed Governor of Yongzhou. When he assumed office, Emperor Wu personally saw him off. The emperor asked, "Can you evaluate yourself?" Xi Qiao replied, "My responses to your policy questions ranked first in the empire. Yet I consider myself merely one branch from the cassia grove, a single piece of jade from Mount Kunlun."
After taking office, Xi Shen governed with fairness and integrity, diligently fulfilling his duties, and quickly earned a stellar reputation among the locals.
Later, the idiom "A Single Jade from Kunlun" came to be used to praise rare talent or the most outstanding among many beauties.
Source: *Book of Jin*, "Biography of Xi Shen"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "昆山片玉" came to describe praise rare talent or the most outstanding among many beauties.